HIST 1010 Chapter 18: The Balance of Power in Eignteenth-Century Europe
10 Aug 2016
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Week 9: the balance of power in eignteenth-century europe chapter 18 page 408-427: Peter the great guided russia"s development into a major european power. Peter borrowed from the west in an effort to increase russia"s power. His reforms were aimed at enhancing military efficiency. Nonetheless, they transformed many aspects of russian life. Peter"s polities made a bad situation worse for russia"s serfs and peasants. Population growth increased the wealth of the landowning class. Catherine the great drew on enlightenment ideas to enhance the effectiveness of her government. Her reforms did little to improve the lives of the vast majority of her people. Conflict between prussia and austria was at the heart of central european politics form the mid-eighteenth century on. Frederick william, the great elector, began the process of turning brandenburg-prussia into a military power. Frederick ii built on successes of his father, using the army and state resources he inherited to expand prussia"s territory.
